Submitted by Ponoka District Beef Committee
The three beef clubs that make up the Ponoka District Beef came together on June 8 for their year end awards night. The Central club hosted the event and the general purpose room at Ponoka Composite High School was filled with buyers, sponsors, parents, grandparents, and siblings, all there to witness the East, West and Central leaders present the 4H members with their year end awards. The buyers and sponsors had the honour of being first through the bountiful potluck beef supper as 4H families love to eat. After you made your way through the amazing assortment of desserts, Master of Ceremonies, Barb Bonnett, commenced the program with each club and their respective sponsors presenting all individual members with awards, prizes, certificates and breed awards. The kids are recognized for their goals and achievements that they have reached throughout the whole 4H year, from being on the executive, advancement to zones, districts and regional public speaking , for being a first year member and the number of projects each member had chosen to take on. Even assistant leaders were recognized for their dedication and years of service.
The whole theme of the evening revolved around gratitude and appreciation to those who support 4H with the members individually acknowledging their sponsors and buyers after receiving their awards and their cheques.
Many sponsors and buyers have supported these clubs for numerous years and are integral in the continuous success of the 4H program in Ponoka. The ATB awards of excellence were presented near the end of the program. This award recognizes the years of participation and accumulated points that the members collect over their 4H years. The Bronze, Silver and Gold medallion statuettes were presented by ATB branch manager Marvin Beier to Braden Abt, Tamara Bonnett, Erika Cissell, Amanda Klimec, Katelyn McClaflin, Jessica Sperber, Carling Matejka, Samantha Stretch, Chelsey Dykstra, Brittney Matejka, Brandi-Lynn McClaflin, Samantha Sperber, and Amy Weleschuk. Kelsey Slater, Austin Jacobsen and Zach McClaflin were also recognized.
Chad Cissell who worked in close conjunction with Co-op Feeds introduced representative Brian Malmas, who announced the 4H incentive in which clubs in this area can send in their invoices and receive a donation back. Brian presented Chad with a cheque for 10 per cent of the club feed purchases. A cheque presentation was made from the three club presidents: Brittany Hehr, Samantha Sperber and Marissa Weleschuk to Lindsey Gartner and Erika Cissell accepting on behalf of the Kids with Cancer Society. The amount of $4427.33 is half of the monies raised from the charity steer raffle. The other half will be presented to the Ponoka Stampede Rodeo Challenge during the stampede.
A final note on behalf of the beef committee, which is comprised of parents and leaders from all three clubs and is responsible for organizing the show and sale each and every year, is that we know and realize the huge undertaking that is involved in planning and putting on our show. It would not happen if it wasn’t for the willingness and dedication of families and community. The kids are able to have their final achievement day due to the continuous support of an unbelievable number of volunteers, sponsors and buyers who are involved each year and for years past. We thank them for their support through the good and bad years of the cattle business. It is because of them that 4H has been successful in this community for over 50 years and we are proud of the tradition it holds here.